Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence Slams Braun Administration Proposal for Active Shooter Drills for Daycares
Active Shooter Drills are Not Supported by Research and Can Harm Mental Health of Students
Indianapolis – Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, a grassroots movement of educators and school staff that bridges the gap between the gun violence prevention and education communities, has released a statement regarding media reports that childcare centers in Indiana may be required to conduct regular active shooter drills according to a new proposal from Gov. Mike Braun.
"Time and again, studies have found that active shooter drills harm students mental health of students and unfortunately, little public safety benefits. Far too many school shootings start because a child found an unsecured firearm at home and brought it to school," said Abbey Clements, executive director of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. "I will assume that the Braun administration intends to create safer school communities but this proposal just doesn't get the job done. If the Braun Administration truly wanted to make schools safer, it would require Indiana schools to educate parents about the importance of secure firearms storage."
Everytown: Studies have found overwhelming evidence that school shooter drills may cause psychological harm to students. A study by Everytown noted, "...active shooter drills significantly impact mental health, regardless of whether they are implemented in elementary, middle, or high schools." [The Impact of Active Shooter Drills in Schools, Everytown, Last Updated 5.14.24]
Abbey Clements is the executive director and a Co-Founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. She is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012, and was an elementary educator for over 30 years. Abbey has been featured in various events, publications, and documentaries, including the 2024 DNC, Newtown, If I Don’t Make It, I Love You, Bullets Into Bells, AFT Voices, USA Today, AARP, Share My Lesson, The Hill, among others.
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Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence envisions a future where every school in the United States is a safe haven and a safe learning environment for every child, and where all citizens live without the fear and trauma of gun violence.
